Samuel

Samuel
(Sam´yoo-uhl)

A prophet who ruled Israel at the end of the period of the judges and anointed the first two kings. He is the dominant figure at the beginning of the first of the two books of the Bible that bear his name. Samuel was dedicated to God from birth by his mother, Hannah (1Sam 1) and as a young boy responded to God’s voice to receive his first oracle as a prophet: a renunciation of the house of Eli, whose sons had corrupted the cult of Yahweh (1Sam 3:1-14; 1Sam 2:12-17). Later, Samuel assumed national leadership, driving out the Philistines and making periodic visits to cities where he passed judgment on cases brought before him (1Sam 7:13-17). In his old age the Israelites requested a king (1Sam 8) and, somewhat reluctantly, Samuel anointed Saul as king (1Sam 9:1-10:27). He later rejected Saul (1Sam 13:7-14; 1Sam 15:10-29) and anointed David (1Sam 16:1-13). After his death, Samuel makes one additional appearance, in (1Sam 28), when Saul summons his ghost, hoping for a favorable oracle. The ghost, however, reminds Saul of the divine rejection of his kingship and predicts a Philistine victory in the battle.

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